Impressive run for Patriots Kevin Faulk

Monday

Feb 6, 2012 at 6:00 AM

Patriots coach Bill Belichick is a man of few flowery words, but that quickly changes when the topic turns to running back Kevin Faulk. Faulk, like former Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown, clearly occupies a special spot in Belichick’s heart and mind, and in Patriots history.

By Jennifer Toland TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Patriots coach Bill Belichick is a man of few flowery words, but that quickly changes when the topic turns to running back Kevin Faulk.

Faulk, like former Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown, clearly occupies a special spot in Belichick’s heart and mind, and in Patriots history.

“There are a few players that I think you can put into Kevin’s category in terms of his contributions, his unselfishness and being a great teammate,” Belichick said. “Everybody loves Kevin, as they should. He contributes so much to our football team.”

Faulk was inactive for yesterday’s Super Bowl XLVI, and has likely played his last game in a Patriots uniform.

Coming back from knee surgery, the 35-year-old Faulk saw his playing time dwindle after being activated from the physically unable to perform list in Week 7, and retirement is a strong possibility for the 13-year veteran.

Faulk has always talked about a career in coaching, and he served in kind of a tutorial role this year with rookie running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen, while continuing to nurture BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead.

“Faulk is really just a natural leader,” Ridley said. “From being on the field, off the field, film room, as far as where to play the bills in town, it’s just everything. He’s a valuable piece to have as part of our team, he really is. He’s helped us young guys to come in and it’s made this load easier on us in the transition to becoming pros.”

Faulk, who is the Patriots’ all-time leader in all-purpose yards, made his mark as a versatile third-down back, and with his pass-catching and blitz pickup abilities. He has the most receptions (431) of any Patriots running back and ranks third on the team’s all-time list with 7,308 yards from scrimmage.

Faulk, quarterback Tom Brady and left tackle Matt Light share a special bond, having been part of all three Patriots Super Bowl titles.

“It’s been one of those things, you think about it later,” Faulk said. “You can’t actually turn around and look back and see what you’ve done because you’re trying to accomplish so much ahead of you.”

Faulk tore his ACL in the second game of 2010 and missed the rest of the year. He became an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, and his return to the Patriots in 2011 wasn’t a given. The Pats drafted Ridley and Vereen and had Green-Ellis and Woodhead coming back. But Belichick called Faulk before last summer’s lockout and told him he wanted him back.

“That just showed the respect factor between us,” Faulk said, “and I think the relationship that we have built over time being here. I guess that shows the consistency that I’ve shown as a person and as a football player for this organization and this team.”

After having a season-high six carries for 32 yards against the Steelers in his first game back this year, Faulk finished with just 17 touches for 57 yards. He was active, but didn’t play in the AFC Championship against the Ravens, and was limited to special teams duties in the divisional playoff game against the Broncos.

“It’s been a learning process,” Faulk said of his role on this year’s team. “I’m seeing the game in a different light instead of being full speed all the time in the game, but I think it’s been good for me.”

Whenever his career ends, Faulk wants to be remembered simply — “Just for how much I put into it,” he said. “How much I loved the game, how much the game meant to me.”